The school was named after Knoxville newspaper editor and mayor Captain William Rule (1839–1928).
An effort was made to append a grade 12 to the school curriculum, however that initially fell through.
The protest was reported on the front page of the New York Times.
Mary C. Hodge Halsey wrote the book, "Golden Memories of Rule High School - A History."
It is a 426-page book with pictures, copies of school programs, and stories of faculty members and students.